Team spirit and chess excitement come together in Karaman
The 2025-2026 Turkish Juniors and Youth Team Chess Championships began with an opening ceremony held in Karaman. A total of 114 teams and 571 players from different provinces across Türkiye took their seats at the board to fight for top places in their categories and represent their clubs in the best possible way. The opening ceremony was attended by Turkish Chess Federation President Fethi Apaydın, federation board and committee members, arbiters, club representatives, local sports officials, and players. Beyond being a championship event, the organization also stands out as an important indicator of the current level reached by youth chess development in the country.
In his opening remarks, President Apaydın wished success to all teams and underlined the significance of these competitions for Turkish chess. Team-format events are especially valuable because they develop not only the players’ individual calculation skills and positional understanding, but also their sense of responsibility, solidarity, and match strategy. Apaydın’s statement that he believes the champion teams will represent Türkiye in the best possible way at the European Youth Team Chess Championship clearly highlighted the international dimension of the event.
One of the most notable announcements this year concerned the special preparation process planned for the winning teams. In line with recommendations from the national team coaches, the federation has decided that the champion teams will attend a training camp before the European championship and receive targeted support in their preparations for the event. This approach stands out as a sustainable model aimed not only at short-term results, but also at equipping young players more thoroughly for international competition. Following the opening ceremony, the championships officially got underway with the symbolic first move made by Mehmet Baskın, Director of Sports Services at the Karaman Youth and Sports Provincial Directorate.
In recent years, the steady growth of youth chess events in Türkiye, both in scale and quality, has further increased the value of tournaments like this one. Team competitions in the juniors and youth categories teach players not only long-think discipline, opening preparation, middlegame planning, and endgame technique, but also how to manage risk depending on the performance of their teammates during a match. This major gathering in Karaman will not only determine which teams lift the trophies; it will also make a meaningful contribution to the development journey of new talents who may shape the future of Turkish chess.